The effects of orlistat on weight and on serum lipids in obese patients with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the effects of orlistat 120 mg three times daily vs placebo on weight loss and serum lipids in obese hypercholesterolemic patients. DESIGN: A 24 week multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. After a 2-week single-blind run-in period (placebo+diet (-600 kcal/day; or =5% (64 vs 39%) or > or =10% (23 vs 13%) at week 24. Treatment with orlistat was associated with significantly greater changes in total cholesterol (-11.9% vs -4.0%; P or =1 event in 64 vs 38% of patients). CONCLUSION: Orlistat as an adjunct to dietary intervention promotes weight loss and reduces LDL-C beyond the effect of weight loss in overweight or obese patients with concomitant hypercholesterolemia